Articles posted March 7, 2005

Headlines and features from the Thoroughbred industry

For the second consecutive year Lethal Grande was named Oregon horse of the year and champion older male at the Oregon Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association's annual awards banquet March 5 at Portland Meadows.

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association Breeders' Cup Limited, and Television Games Network announced Monday that TVG, the interactive sports television horse racing network and account wagering provider, will sponsor the $1 million Breeders' Cup Sprint at this year's Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships.

A proposal to create breeders' incentive funds and a modification of the tax on yearlings and 2-year-olds was slated for passage March 8 as part Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher's tax modernization and budget package.

John Fahey III has left his position as private trainer for Donald Dizney's Double Diamond Farm and plans to open a public stable to race primarily on the Kentucky circuit and at Gulfstream Park or Fair Grounds in the winter.

Iroquois Stakes (gr. III) winner Straight Line suffered a mild shin bruise during Saturday's Swale Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park and the Boundary colt will now miss valuable training time if he hopes to get back on the Florida Derby (gr. I) and Kentucky Derby (gr. I) trails.

Dick Hamilton, communications officer for the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., has announced that he will be retiring this spring. Hamilton joined the museum staff in 1995, after retiring from his position as a New York Racing Association steward earlier that year.